As if painted in watercolors, bright stone buidings ring a
traditional cobblestone town square to make up the center of
Landau's pedestrian mall. From here ancient streets radiate
outward, lined with bakeries, coffeehouses, and stores selling
everything from classical music to the latest fashions.

The town itself is surrounded on all sides by vineyards in a
region of southwestern Germany known locally as the South German
Wine Road. Tours take the curious out to see the fine points of
winemaking on site. A few minutes beyond the vineyards steep
forested hills rise up, with many an ancient castle in view,
including the fortress Trifels, in which the English king Richard
Lionheart was held for ransom at the end of the 12th century. The
neighboring forests are the perfect place for excursions to hike,
bike, and explore.

At the western edge of Germany, Landau is located less than a
half hour's drive from France, where an American can now go for a
meal or for shopping without even having to show a passport at
the border.

LANDAU: A small university in Germany.

Germany has many world-famous universities, some centuries
old. But most of the best known, such as Heidelberg, Freiburg,
and Göttingen, have around 30,000 students.

Landau, on the other hand, has but 4,000, making it as close a
match to the small liberal arts college as you're likely to find
among the top tier of Germany's institutions of higher learning.
Landau (properly, the Landau branch of the Universität
Koblenz-Landau) is also one of Germany's youngest, having
attained university status in 1990.

WHEN WOULD I GO?

The Landau exchange is designed for Coe students in their
junior year. The German academic calendar is significantly
different from those of American colleges. The first semester
begins in October and ends in February. The second semester
begins in April and ends in July. Coe students may study for one
semester or both. If you choose to spend only one semester, the
second semester will likely coordinate better. In the six weeks
between the end of J-term and the beginning of Landau's semester
you may want to travel in Germany or take an intensive language
course at one of Germany's many language institutes.

WHAT WOULD I STUDY?

Landau's largest programs are in Teacher Education and
Psychology, but you may take courses there in a wide range of
subjects from German Literature to History to Biology to Business
and beyond. The university offers a few courses in English but
the great majority are in German, thus making proficiency in the
language before you go absolutely essential.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

You will pay your normal tuition to Coe, housing to the
University of Landau, and get meals on your own. Housing costs
are about the same as here, food a little less. You are also
responsible for purchasing books, health insurance, and travel.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Informational sessions are held early each fall. At your first
opportunity, pay a visit to the program advisor. At the beginning
of your sophomore year, pick up an application for off-campus
study from the Off-Campus Study Advisor. Read the fine print
carefully, as the application will in many cases be due more
than a year before your departure.